Sunni Muslim militants extend control across Iraq

Sunni Muslim militants have continued their assault across cities in Iraq, seizing a second city is an many days, and appear to be making their way south to the capital Baghdad.

Militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) yesterday attacked Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, and have now extended their control south, to an area including the country’s biggest oil refinery.

An estimated 500,000 residents have now fled Mosul, with militants freeing hundreds of prisoners.

ISIS has also seized the Turkish consulate in Mosul, taking around 30 hostages, including soldiers, diplomats and children.

Police say the city of Tikrit, which is the hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein, and lies about halfway between Mosul and Baghdad, is also now in the hands of militants.

The United States and United Nations have both condemned the attacks, and called on ISIS to release the Turkish hostages immediately.